CEDAR FALLS, Ia. — The emotional whirlwind of Sunday’s selection show has come and gone, giving way to playoff excitement throughout Cedar Falls.

It’s a new season for Northern Iowa.

“There are 24 teams left,” Panthers coach Mark Farley said. “It’s go time, and everybody’s got the same shot going down the stretch right now. We’ve got just as good of a chance as North Dakota State does. Doesn’t matter. It’s a free-for-all.”

The Panthers (6-5) begin their postseason journey at 4 p.m. Saturday, hosting Lamar inside the UNI-Dome. Farley’s bunch had to hold their breath at times during Sunday’s selection show, but the Panthers’ few quality wins and solid strength of schedule pushed them in.

While trying to stay in a routine amid playoff anticipation and the Thanksgiving holiday, many Panthers don’t discount the importance of getting an opening-round home game. This year marks the 10th straight time UNI will begin its postseason run at the UNI-Dome.

“Obviously, a home game for us is very important,” senior kicker Austin Errthum said. “We obviously like being at home, playing in the Dome. As a kicker especially, not having to deal with weather is nice. ... So it’s good to have a home game, especially being a senior. For all of us to get one more game in the Dome is nice rather than having to travel.”

Lamar enters the FCS playoff field for the first time in program history, leaning on a strong running attack en route to a 7-4 season in the Southland Conference. The Cardinals have won their last six to rebound from a 1-4 start.

Lamar’s 250.3 ground yards per game lead the Southland and rank 12th nationally in FCS. The workload is spread among four main guys: quarterbacks Darrel Colbert and Jordan Hoy, as well as running backs Myles Wanza and A.J. Walker. All four have scampered for 500-plus yards this year.

Even so, the UNI defense has slowed the run solidly in 2018. The Panthers’ 132.6 rushing yards per game allowed ranks 28th nationally and third in the MVFC. Injuries have piled up on the defensive side, but the Panthers’ mettle has shown through.

“We even altered our defense midseason because of the injuries and some of the things that happened to play to the strengths of the guys who were out there,” Farley said. “So it just shows to me: one, the intelligence of our team because they had to adapt and adjust; the awareness they have and then the capabilities of our coaches to teach them and get them there within a week’s time. So very pleased with our defense with how it’s came together to give us a chance to be in this position.”

UNI’s veterans have been in this spot as well. This is the seniors’ third postseason run — fourth for those who redshirted as true freshmen — and they’ve seen how things change when playoff football kicks off.

It’s a different time, for better or worse. It’s on the Panthers to take advantage.

“It really feels like a new season,” senior running back Marcus Weymiller said. “It really feels like everything else doesn’t matter what’s happened up to this point. Now, you just wake up and go at it. You don’t think about how long the season’s been. You don’t think about anything else. It’s just like, ‘Alright, we’ve got another week.’ Just really thankful to have that opportunity.

“When you come to UNI, you want to make the playoffs. As a senior, you feel like it’s your duty to lead the team into the playoffs. To know our team is going up on the playoff wall means a lot.”

Dargan Southard covers Iowa and UNI athletics, recruiting and preps for the Des Moines Register, HawkCentral.com and the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Email him at msouthard@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.